Wheel cover



Feb. 25, 1958 LYON Re. 24,437

WHEEL COVER Original Filed Dec. 28. 1949 s She'ets-Sheet 1 'IIIIII/IIII[21 F217 far G'soeazfllazer Ara Feb. 25-, 1958 G, A, LYO Re. 24,431

WHEEL COVER I Original Filed Dec. 2a, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Figs.

Feb. 25, 1958 G. A. LYON WHEEL COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original FiledDec. 28, 1949 United States Patent WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon,Detroit, Mich.

Original No. 2,683,628, dated July 13, 1954, Serial No. 135,469,December 28, 1949. Application for reissue June 12, 1956, Serial No.591,004

16 Claims. (Cl. 301-37 Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: II appearsin the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to improvements in wheel structures andmore particularly concerns improvements in means for coveringornamentally and protectively the outer sides of vehicle wheels.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision ofan improved wheel structure including a cover for the outer side of thewheel structure embodying novel means for removably attaching the coverin place on the wheel.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a wheelstructure having a novel cover on the outer side thereof includingimproved retaining means for detachably securing the cover in snap-on,pry-off relation at the tire rim of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wheel coverfor the outer side of a vehicle wheel having a multi-flange tire rim andwherein the cover includes a novel retaining finger construction forsnapon, pry-ofl engagement with the terminal flange of the tire rim of awheel with which the cover is associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved retainingfinger structure on a wheel cover.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicleWheel cover having novel means for accommodating a pry-otf tool inejecting the cover from a wheel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means forremoving a wheel cover from a wheel to which the cover has been applied.

According to the general features of the present invention there isprovided in a wheel structure including a multi-flange tire rim and abody supporting the tire rim having a generally radially and axiallyoutwardly extending terminal flange, a cover disposed at the outer sideof the wheel and having a convexly curved outer margin including anunderturned flange extending radially and axially inwardly in spacedrelation to the marginal portion and including a plurality of generallyradially and axially outwardly projecting retaining fingers engagingagainst the inner side of the axially outwardly extending portion of theterminal flange and being of a length to be in stressed inwardly bowedcondition and of a flexibility to turn upon the application of pry-offforce to the margin of the cover.

According to other general features of the invention the cover has apry-off tool rib projecting axially inwardly at a point closely adjacentto but radially inwardly of the inner edge of the underturned flange andat the radially inner side of the convex marginal portion.

According to yet other general features of the invention there isprovided a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle Wheeland having a radial extent to overlie the tire rim of the wheel, theouter edge of the cover being of a diameter to extend in radiallyinwardly spaced relation to the terminus of the tire rim and having anunderturned marginal flange extending to a substantial extent radiallyinwardly and axially in- Re. 24,437 Reissued Feb. 25, 1958 wardly andhaving underturned generally radially and axially outwardly extendingretaining fingers of such Width as to engage with a substantial segmentof the inner face of the tire rim terminal flange and being flexiblybendable so that one side of the finger is bendable into concave formwhile the opposite side of the finger is bendable into convex form inprying the cover free from the tire rim.

According to other features of the invention there is provided a vehiclewheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a wheel and with theouter margin in close adjacency to the terminal flange of the tire rimof the Wheel, the outer margin of the cover having an underturned flangeof substantial Width extending radially and axially inwardly and havinga plurality of generally radially outwardly extending retaining fingersadapted to engage against the inner side of the axially outwardlyextending portion of the terminal flange of the tire rim, said fingersbeing of a width to engage a substantial arc of the tire rim flange andhaving the ends thereof arcuately conformed on a radius to engage thetire rim flange, each of the retaining fingers being progressivelydetachable from the tire rim by compound flexure of the finger andprogressive incremental disengagement from the tire rim commencing atone side of the finger and progressing toward the other side of thefinger upon the application of pry-oil force to the margin of the coveradjacent to the finger.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle wheel showing a coveraccording to the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged radial sectional view taken substantially online IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary radial sectional view taken substantially onthe line III1II of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a radial sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing thecover in the process of prying the same from the Wheel;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a further stage inthe prying of the cover from the wheel;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the cover of Figures 1 and 2; I

Figure 7 is an edge perspective view of the wheel and cover showing thecover in process of being detached;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary radial sectional view taken substantially onthe line VlIIVIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a radial sectional View similar to Figure 3 but showing theuse of a novel pry-off tool for removing the cover; and

Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of the pry-ofi tool of Figure 9, ona reduced scale.

As shown on the drawings:

The present invention is especially useful with a vehicle wheel of thekind currently in use on automobiles and the like and including a wheelbody 15 and a tire rim 16 to which the wheel body is attached in anysuitable fashion. The tire rim 16 is of the multi-fiange, drop centertype adapted to support a pneumatic tire and tube assembly 17 and havingat its outer side an angular terminal flange structure including agenerally radially extending portion 18 and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending portion 19.

At its outer side the wheel is protectively and ornamentally covered bya wheel cover 20 which in the present instance is of the one pieceoverall or full disk type. To this end the cover comprises a more orless axially outwardly projecting crown portion 21, an annularintermediate cross sectionally dished or concave portion 22 generallysimulative of the intermediate or large juncture groove customarybetween the tire rim and the bulging portion of the wheel body, and amarginal convex portion 23 arranged to be disposed in substantialconcealing relation to the outer side of the tire rim.

Novel means are provided at the outer margin of the wheel cover forself-engaging, snap-on, pry-oflj' retaining cooperation with theterminal flange structure of the tire rim. For this purpose the marginalportion 23 of the cover affords a substantially rigid annular rib whichis further reinforced and stiffened by a generally axially inwardlyextending annular rib 24 at the inner side of'the marginal portion 23and at juncture of the marginal portion with the intermediate portion 22of the cover. Additional reinforcement for the cover margin is affordedby a narrow annular convex rib 25 at juncture of the rib 24 with theintermediate portion 22. Hence the marginal area of the cover isstrongly reinforced by an undulating pattern of reinforcing ribs 23, 24and 25 reading from the outer edge of the cover inwardly.

Yet additional reinforcement for the outer margin of the cover isafforded by an underturned concave convex annular flange 27 which bypreference lies parallel in spaced relation behind the marginal rib 23,extending generally radially inwardly and then turning axially inwardlyto a point adjacent to the inwardly extending reinforcing rib 24. Atjuncture of the flange 27 With the marginal rib 23 a short radius edgestiffening rib of more or less bead-like shape 28 is provided whichfaces radially outwardly and lies on a cover edge circumference slightlyless than the inside diameter of the terminal flange portion 19 of thetire rim adjacent to which and radially inwardly from the inner side ofthe tip of which terminal flange portion 19 the edge rib 28 is adaptedto be disposed in full assembly with the wheel. For this purpose, theinner, axially inwardly projecting edge of the underturned marginalflange 27 is provided with a plurality, herein four equidistantly spacedgenerally radially and axially outwardly extending retaining fingers 29arranged to engage endwise against the inner face of the axiallyextending portion 19 of the tire rim terminal flange in retaining,gripping relation. Each of the retaining fingers 29 is longer than theunderturned flange 27 to a suflicient extent to project radiallyoutwardly beyond the perimeter of the cover sufficiently to bridge thegap between the cover perimeter or edge and the tire rim terminal flangeportion 19 and actually to an extent such that normally the tips of thefingers lie on a circumference of greater diameter than the diameter ofthe inner face of the terminal flange portion 19. At juncture with theinner margin of the flange 27, the fingers 29 are formed with respectivejuncture ribs 30 of substantial radius in cross section and lying on theradius of the inner edge of the flange 27 throughout the length of theribs. By reason of the substantial radius cross section of the ribs 30,the inner margins of the fingers 29 project substantially axiallyinwardly, and by preferonce such projection is of an extent whichenables seating of the inner shoulder at the inner margins of thefingers against the inner margin of the radial terminal flange portion18 substantially at juncture of the flange portion with the intermediateflange of the tire rim. The relative spacings involved are such that theouter marginal rib 23 of the wheel cover is thus disposed atsubstantially the plane of the edge of the tire rim terminal flangeouter portion 19 in the full assembly of the cover with the wheel. Asbest seen in Figure 6, the retaining tips of the retaining fingers 29are formed on a circle conforming to the radius of the annular innerface of the terminal flange portion 19 and the width of each of thefingers is such as to engage a relatively large arc, in each instance,of the terminal flange portion 19.

In applying the cover 20 to the wheel, the cover is generally centeredwith respect to the outer side of the wheel and with the inner faces ofthe retaining fingers 29 resting against the edge of the terminal flangeportion 19. Then, by pressing axially inwardly against the cover theretaining fingers 29 are caused to yield and snap into inwardly camming,retaining engagement with the tire rim terminal flange, the cover beingfully assembled with the wheel when the inner shoulders of the fingersengage against the terminal flange portion 18. In this fully retainedrelationship of the cover, the retaining fingers 29 are held underradially inward stress which affords a radially outward strong grippingreaction of the tips of the fingers against the inner face of theterminal flange portion 19. As best seen in Figure 2, in the retainingrelationship to the tire rim, the fingers are somewhat bowed concavelyas permitted by the substantial resilience inherent in the fingersresulting from the length of the fingers and the peripheral curvature onwhich the juncture ribs 36 thereof are formed. As a result, theresilient tension in the retaining fingers acts to force the innerseating shoulders of the fingers tightly against the tire rim flangeportion 18 and thus strongly resists accidental dislodgernent of thecover from the wheel.

By reason of the spaced relation of the periphery of the cover from thetire rim terminal flange portion 19 and the spaced relation of the inneredge of the underturned marginal flange 27 from the tire rim, a freepassage is afforded about the outer margin of the cover for aircirculation through the wheel by way of wheel openings 31 between thewheel body 15 and the tire rim 16, as best seen in Figure 3.

Although the wheel cover 29 is quite thoroughly retained on the Wheelduring service, the particular construction of the cover margin and theretaining fingers 29 enables the cover to be pried oif of the Wheel withsubstantial facility when necessary. One manner of ejecting the coverfrom the wheel is illustrated in Figures 4-, 5, 7 and 8 in volving theuse of a pry-off tool such as a screw driver Thus, the tip of the screwdriver 32 is inserted into between the edge of the terminal flan e outerportion and the edge of the tire rim at an intermediate point between apair of the retaining fingers 2%. By fuicrurning the pry-ofi tool on thetire rim edge, axially outward force is applied at the pe 'pheral rib 25of the cover. As a result, the resilient retaining fingers 29 turn oversubstantially as shown in Figure 8 and the inner shoulder of the fingersdraws away from the opposing shoulder afforded by the tire rim terminalflange portion 13 and the outer portions of t e fingers flex away fromthe underturned marginal flange 27 which is forced outwardly with themargin of the cover by the action of the pry-off tool.

Having thus started ejection of the cover, the tip of the pry-off tool32. is thrust inwardly as shown in full line in Figure 5 until the tipengages against the reinforcing rib i and further leverage is thenexerted against the margin of the cover to drive the outer margin of thecover further on 29 from the tire rim marginal portion 19. Suchdisengagement of the retaining fingers, as has been closely observed inpractice, occurs gradually and progressively starting at the sides ofthe proximate fingers adjacent to the pry-oil point and as the coverassumes a more and more tilted position during progress of the pry-ohaction, the releasing edge portions of the fingers gradually turn fromthe convexly bowed condition shown in Figure 8 to the radially andaxially outward condition as shown in Figure 7. Therein it will be seenthat the adjacent sides of the fingers have turned outwardly and haveslipped beyond the edge of the tire rirn terminal portion 19. Thisaction progresses until the proximate fingers 29 have snapped entirelyclear of the tire rim terminal flange and the cover is ejected from thewheel. it will thus be apparcut that as the pry-off action progressesthe fingers due to their unusual width which, as is apparent fromFigures 6 and 7 several times the length of the fingers,

are capable of and actually do smoothly disengage from the tire rimterminal flange progressively from side to side while the body of therespective fingers progressively bends flexibly from the pry-offstressed convex flexure condition through a compound, sinuous flexingaction to the normal generally radially and axially outward condition ofthe fingers.

As the pry-off progresses, the pry-off tool 32 may be driven furtherinwardly until the radially outer side of the inwardly bulgedintermediate portion 22 is engaged by the side of the pry-off tool tipsubstantially as indicated in dash outline in Figure 5.

Pry-off of the cover 20 is further substantially facilitated by the useof a special pry-01f tool 35 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. This tool ispreferably made from sheet metal stamped to form and comprises a handleportion 36 of transversely concave form, an intermediate convex bodyportion 37 and a pry-off head 38. The sinuous, multicurved body andhandle portions of the tool afford maximum rigidity with minimummaterial. The pry-off head portion of the tool comprises a plurality ofangular flanges including an inwardly right angular juncture flange 39,an outwardly right angular intermediate flange 40 and a generallyinwardly and rearwardly angled pry-off tip flange 41. Juncture betweenthe intermediate and pry-otf tip flanges 40 and 41 is on a roundedshoulder 42. The arrangement of the flanges of the pry-ofl head 38 issuch that the pry-ofl tip flange 41 is conveniently inserted into thegap between the cover periphery 28 and the terminal flange portion 19and the pry-off head inserted between the margin of the cover and theterminal flange until the end of the pry-01f tip flange 41 engagesagainst the inner margin of the underturned marginal flange 27. As willbe observed from Figure 10, the pry-ofl head 38 is formed on the radiusof the inner side of the terminal flange portion 19 and is of quitesubstantial width so as to afford a large area of engagement between thepry-off tip flange 41 and the underturned marginal flange 27 of thecover.

With the pry-off tool 35 assembled with the tire rim and cover,substantially as shown in Figure 9, the shoulder 42 of the pry-01f headengages against the tire rim flange portion 18 and the intermediate headportion 40 engages against the edge of the tire rim terminal flangeportion 19. Thereupon by levering the handle 36 the portion 40 fulcrumsabout the tire rim edge to drive the pry-off tip 41 outwardly and thusinitiate pry-off of the cover until 'a shoulder 43 at juncture of thehead flange portion 39 with the intermediate or body portion 37 engagesagainst the outer side of the tire and fulcruming thereagainst in thecontinued levering of the tool completes the ejection of the cover.

By reason of the severally reinforced margin of the cover 20 pry-off,whether accomplished by the conventional screw driver type of pry-offtool 32 or by the special pry-off tool 35 is accomplished without anydanger of damaging the margin of the cover. Moreover, by reason of thesubstantial flexibility of the exceptionally wide, resilient retainingfingers 29 assures not only that the cover is retained quite effectivelyin a thoroughly retained floating, substantially shock-proof relation onthe wheel, but during pry-off the retaining fingers efliciently flex andcontort without taking a set or damage and the cover can therefore bereplaced with full retaining efliciency inhering in the retainingfingers 29.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedWithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel structure including a multi-flange tire rim and a bodysupporting the tire rim, the tire-rim having a generally radially andaxially outwardly extending terminal flange, a cover disposed at theouter side of the wheel and having a convexly curved outer marginincluding an underturned flange extending radially and axially inwardlyin spaced relation to the marginal portion and including a pluralityofgenerally radially and axially outwardly projecting retaining fingersengaging against the inner side of the axially outwardly extendingportion of the terminal flange and being of a length to be in stressedinwardly bowed condition and of a flexibility to turn upon theapplication of pry-off force to the margin of the cover, the coverhaving a pry-ofl tool rib projecting axially inwardly at a point closelyadjacent to but radially inwardly of the inner edge of the underturnedflange and at the radially inner side of the convex marginal portion.

2. A wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheelincluding a multi-flange tire rim having a generally radially outwardlyand then axially outwardly extending angular terminal flange, a coverbody having a marginal portion arranged to overlie the inner portion ofthe tire rim terminal flange and including an underturned marginalflange extending generally radially and axially inwardly for overlyingrelation to the inner portion of the terminal flange, the inner edge ofthe flange extending generally axially inwardly and having a pluralityof peripherally spaced retaining fingers thereon each of which comprisesan integral extension from the flange edge and has a curved junctureshoulder with the flange edge and a finger body portion extendinggenerally radially and axially outwardly for engagement with the outerportion of the tire rim terminal flange, each of the fingers being ofsubstantially greater width than length and said shoulder being formedon a peripheral curvature conforming to the curvature of the tire rimperiphery.

3..A Wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheelincluding a multi-flange tire rim having a generally radially outwardlyand then axially outwardly extending angular terminal flange, a coverbody having a marginal portion arranged to overlie the inner portion ofthe tire rim terminal flange and including an underturned marginalflange extending generally radially and axially inwardly for overlyingrelation to the inner portion of the terminal flange, the inner edge ofthe flange extending generally axially inwardly and having a pluralityof peripherally spaced retaining fingers thereon each of which comprisesan integral extension from the flange edge and has a curved junction ribshoulder with the flange edge and a finger body portion extendinggenerally radially and axially outwardly for engagement with the outerportion of the tire rim terminal flange, each of the fingers being ofsubstantially greater width than length and said shoulder being formedon a peripheral curvature conforming to the curvature of the tire rimperiphery, the cover having a generally axially inwardly projectingannular reinforcing rib adjacent to but spaced radially inwardly fromthe juncture rib shoulder of the fingers.

4. In a wheel structure including a Wheel body and a multi-flange tirerim having a terminal flange of angular cross section including aradially outwardly extending inner portion and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending outer portion, a wheel cover for disposition at theouter side of the wheel including a tire rim covering marginal portionhaving a convex outer marginal rib and an underturned marginalreinforcing flange behind said rib joined to the rib on a short radiusreinforcing rib lying adjacent to but in spaced relation to the tip ofthe outer portion of the tire rim terminal flange, said underturnedcover flange extending radially and axially inwardly to a point adjacentto but spaced from the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminalflange and having a plurality of retaining fingers on said edge joinedthereto on juncture ribs of substantial cross sectional radius andcurved in circumference conformable to the curvature of the outerportion of the terminal flange, juncture of the body portions of thefingers with said juncture ribs comprising engagement shoulders engagingagainst the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminal flangewhile the tips of the fingers engage retainingly and under stressagainst the inner face of the outer portion of the terminal flange andthe stress reaction urges the shoulders against the inner terminalflange portion.

5. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-fiange tirerim having a terminal flange of angular cross section including aradially outwardly extending inner portion and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending outer portion, a wheel cover for disposition at theouter side of a wheel including a tire rim covering marginal portionhaving a convex outer marginal rib and an underturned marginalreinforcing flange behind said rib joined to the rib on a short radiusreinforcing rib lying adjacent to but in spaced relation to the tip ofthe outer portion of the tire rim terminal flange, said underturnedcover flange extending radially and axially inwardly to a point adjacentto but spaced from the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminalflange and having a pinrality of retaining fingers on said edge joinedthereto on juncture ribs of substantial cross sectional radius andcurved in circumference conformable to the curvature of the outerportion of the terminal flange, juncture of the body portions of thefingers with said juncture ribs comprising engagement shoulders engagingagainst the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminal flangewhile the tips of the fingers engage retainingly and under stressagainst the inner face of the outer portion of the terminal flange andthe stress reaction urges the shoulders against the inner terminalflange portion, the edge rib of the cover being in pry-oil tool gaprelation to the tip of the tire rim terminal fian e and the cover havinga reinforcing rib radially inwardly from the juncture ribs of theretaining fingers for engagement by a pryolt tool inserted through saidgap for prying the cover from the Wheel.

6. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-flange tirerim having a terminal flange of angular cross section including aradially outwardly extending inner portion and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending outer portion, a wheel cover for disposition at theouter side of the Wheel including a tire rim covering marginal portionhaving a convex outer marginal rib and an underturned marginalreinforcing flange behind said rib joined to the rib on a short radiusreinforcing rib lying adjacent to 'but in spaced relation to the tip ofthe outer portion of the tire rim terminal flange, said underturnedcover flange extending radially and axially inwardly to a. pointadjacent to but space from the inner margin of the inner portion of theterminal flange and having a plurality of retaining fingers on said edgejoined thereto on juncture ribs of substantial cross sectional radiusand curved in circumference conformable to the curvature of the outerportion of the terminal flange, juncture of the body portions of thefingers with said juncture ribs comprising engagement shoulders engagingagainst the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminal flangeWhile the tips of the fingers engage retainingly and under stressagainst the inner face of the outer portion of the terminal flange andthe stress reaction urges the shoulders against the inner terminalflange portion, said fingers being of a length to flex into convexlyarched condition upon the application of pry-off force behind saidunderturned flange.

7. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-flange tirerim having a terminal flange of angular cross section including aradially outwardly extending inner portion and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending outer portion, a wheel cover for disposition at theouter side of the wheel including a tire rim covering marginal portionhaving a convex outer marginal rib and an underturned marginalreinforcing flange behind said rib joined to the rib on a short radiusreinforcing rib lying adjacent to but in spaced relation to the tip ofthe outer portion of the tire rim terminal flange, said underturnedcover flange extending radially and axially inwardly to a point adjacentto but spaced from the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminalflange and having a plurality of retaining fingers on said edge joinedthereto on junction ribs of substantial cross sectional radius andcurved in circumference conformable to the curvature of the outerportion of the terminal flange, juncture of the body portions of thefingers with said juncture ribs comprising engagement shoulders engagingagainst the inner margin of the inner portion of the terminal flangewhile the tips of the fingers engage retainingly and under stressagainst the inner face of the outer portion of the terminal flange andthe stress reaction urges the shoulders against the inner terminalflange portion, said fingers being of a length to flex into convexlyarched condition upon the application of pry-off force behind saidunderturned flange, the Width of said fingers being substantiallygreater than the length of the fingers whereby upon pry-oti the sides ofthe fingers proximate the point of. pry-oil force application slip outof engagement with the tire rim terminal flange in advance of theremaining portions of the fingers and turn back to substantially initialradially and axially outward projecting condition progressively as thepry-off continues until the entire fingers snap out of engagement withthe tire rim terminal flange.

8. A wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheelincluding a multi-flange tire rim including an angular terminal flange,a wheel cover body having a marginal portion for overlying the terminalflange and including an underturned generally radially and axiallyinwardly extending flange having a plurality of radially and axiallyoutwardly extending retaining fingers adapted to engage with theoutwardly extending portion of the terminal flange, said fingers beingof substantial length and flexible on a transverse axis, and also beingof a width substantially greater than their length and thus flexibleabout various longitudinal axes, and said fingers having reverse bendjunctures directly at the inner margin of said flange.

9. In a vehicle Wheel cover for disposition in substantially concealingrelation to the outer side of a vehicle wheel including a multi-flangetire rim having a generally angular terminal flange structure, a coverbody having a convex annular rib margin and an underturned marginalflange joining the marginal rib on a short radius radially extendingreinforcing rib, said underturned flange lying in spaced relation to andbeing of substantially the same Width as said rib, the inner edge of theunderturned flange having a plurality of radially and axially outwardlyextending retaining fingers joined thereto on a reinforcing rib ofsubstantial radius cross section.

10. In a vehicle wheel cover for disposition in substantially concealingrelation to the outer side of a vehicle wheel including a multi-langetire rim having a generally angular terminal flange structure, a coverbody having a convex annular rib margin and an underturned marginalflange joining the marginal rib on a short radius radially extendingreinforcing rib, said underturned flange lying in spaced relation to andbeing of substantially the same width as said rib, the inner edge of theunderturned flange having a plurality of radially and axially outwardlyextending retaining fingers joined thereto on a reinforcing rib radius,said fingers being of greater length than the Width of said underturnedflange to project radially outwardly therebeyond for stressed retainingengagement with the terminal flange of the wheel and being several timesas wide as long so as to have substantial compound flexibility.

ll. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-flange tirerim having a terminal flange of angular cross-section including aradially outwardly extending inner portion and a generally axiallyoutwardly extending outer portion, a wheel cover for disposition at theouter side of a wheel including a tire rim covering marginal portion,the outer edge of said marginal portion being of a diameter to extend inradially inwardly spaced relation to said outer portion of the tire rimand having therebehind a flange structure extending generally radiallyand axially inwardly to a point adjacent to but spaced from the innermargin of the inner portion of the terminal flange, said flangestructure having a plurality of generally radially and axially outwardlyextending retaining fingers spaced behind said flange structure andadapted to engage with the outer portion of the angular tire rimterminal flange for retaining the cover on the wheel, said fingershaving reverse bend junctures directly at the inner margin of the flangestructure and having engagement shoulders engaging against the innerportion of the terminal flange while the tips of the fingers engageretainingly and under stress against the inner face of the outer portionof the terminal flange.

12. In a wheel structure including a multiange tire rim and a bodysupporting the tire rim, the tire rim having a generally radially andaxially outwardly extending terminal flange, a cover for disposition atthe outer side of the wheel and having an outer marginal portionincluding an underturned flange behind the marginal portion and havingprojecting therefrom a plurality of cover retaining fingers engageableagainst the inner side of the axially outwardly extending portion of theterminal flange, the cover having a pry-off tool rib projecting axiallyinwardly at a point closely adjacent to but radially inwardly from saidfingers and on the radially inner portion of the cover marginal portionand adjacent to a radially extending portion of the terminal flange.

13. In a wheel structure including a multi-flange tire rim and a bodysupporting the tire rim, the tire rim having a generally radially andaxially outwardly extending terminal flange, a cover for disposition atthe outer side of the wheel and having an outer marginal portionincluding a flange behind the marginal portion and having projectingtherefrom a plurality of cover retaining fingers engageable against theinner side of the axially outwardly extending portion of the terminalflange, the cover having a pry-off tool rib projecting axially inwardlyat a point closely adjacent to but radially inwardly from said fingersand on the radially inner portion of the cover marginal portion, saidcover flange having between the retaining fingers portions spaced fromthe radially extending portion of the terminal flange and thus afiordinggaps through which access to the pry-off rib may be had by a pry-ofitool inserted behind the outer marginal portion of the cover.

14. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having a terminal flangewith generally radially and axially extending angularly relatedportions, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheelincluding a radially outer marginal portion for overlying the terminalflange and having at the axially inner side thereof a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced retaining fingers with terminals engageablewith the axially extending terminal flange portion and disposed ingenerally confronting relation to the radially extending portion of theterminal flange, the cover having at the radially inner side of themarginal portion and radially inwardly relative to the retaining fingersand adjacent to said radially extending terminal flange portion anannular reinforcing and pry-ofi rib accessible to a pry-ofi toolinserted behind the cover margin between the retaining fingers.

15. In a wheel structure including a flanged wheel part, a cover fordisposition at the outer side of the wheel including a marginal portionfor overlying the flanged wheel part, said marginal portion having atthe axially inner side thereof and carried thereby a flange structureprovided with a plurality of retaining fingers engageable with saidflanged wheel part, and a reinforcing and pry-01f shoulder structure onthe cover located adjacent to the opposite side of said fingers from theedge of said marginal portion and disposed to project axially inwardlyrelative to the contiguous areas of the marginal portion and disposed inboth axially inward and radially spaced relation to at least portions ofsaid flange structure between said fingers so as to be accessible to apry-off tool inserted behind said marginal portion and beyond saidflange structure and said retaining fingers.

16. For disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel having aflanged portion, a cover having a marginal portion for overlying theflanged wheel portion, a flange structure carried by and at the axiallyinner side of said marginal portion and provided with a plurality ofspaced retaining fingers extending behind the cover for retainingengagement with the flanged wheel portion, and a pry-ofl and reinforcingrib on the cover disposed adjacent to the sides of the fingers remotefrom the edge of said marginal portion and located axially inwardly andradially spaced from said flange structure and the fingers for access bya.

pry-ofl tool inserted behind the cover margin beyond the flangestructure and the retaining fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,183 Flandes Feb. 11, 1941 2,276,105 ShiellsMar. 10, 1942 2,368,228 Lyon Ian. 30, 1945 2,368,246 Lyon Jan. 30, 19452,386,233 Lyon Oct. 9, 1945 2,404,390 Lyon July 23, 1946 2,500,221Wagner Mar. 14, 1950

